Young basketball players in Nigeria are set to benefit from a new multi-year partnership between Nestlé and the NBA, which takes effect on 1 January 2027 and will run across 21 markets on four continents. Under the agreement, Nestlé's Milo, Nescau and Nesquik brands become Official Partners of the NBA.
For Nigeria, the deal extends Milo's more than two-decade involvement in youth basketball development, anchored by the Milo Basketball Championship. The 2026 edition of the championship, now in its 26th year, reached more than 13,000 schools across the country.
Nestlé has called the arrangement its largest international brand collaboration to date. The two organisations will collaborate on youth development programmes, fan events and retail activations, including on-pack promotions offering NBA tickets, merchandise and other prizes. Activations will centre on platforms such as Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA, NBA Basketball School, Her Time To Play and NBA 3X, with selected NBA Global Games and NBA House events also featured.
"Basketball has become an important part of the Milo story in Nigeria, creating opportunities for young people to participate in sport while developing values such as discipline, resilience, teamwork and self-belief," said Wassim Elhusseini, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Nigeria.
Julie Morris, NBA Senior Vice President of Commercial Development and Media, said the league would draw on Nestlé's international reach to connect with fans in new ways and support the continued growth of basketball around the world.
